Why is the Rescorla-Wagner model so influential?

Abstract

The influence of the Rescorla-Wagner model cannot be overestimated, despite that (1) the model does not differ much computationally from its predecessors and competitors, and (2) its shortcomings are well-known in the learning community. Here we discuss the reasons behind its widespread influence in the cognitive and neural sciences, and argue that it is the constant search for general-process theories by learning scholars which eventually produced a model whose application spans many different areas of research to this day. We focus on the theoretical and empirical background of the model, the theoretical connections that it has with later developments across Marr’s levels of analysis, as well as the broad variety of research that it has guided and inspired.